Tuesday 13 May 2014

Flying lessons

HOW TO set up your boat - Tips by Mischa Heemskerk


We are Flying the daggerboard rake between 10 to 25mm of rake. (slider more back then the ' 0' position)
This means at the DNA 2013 /2014 boats that the angle of attack on the board is mostly between 1 and 4 degrees.

Mast rake about 5cm from the transom, between transom and hatch cover.
Mast rake is not to be changed if rudder feels bad. heavy steering only has to do with the rudder blade setting.

Rudder has two settings.
1. Weather / lee helm  balance
2. Winglet angl (/rudder foil trim)

Weather or leehelm (heavy steering) can be adjusted by raking the rudder blade more or less in the rudder stock. If helm feels heavy, file (ponce) front of rudder blade or the aluminium of rudder stock so rudder can be raked forward in the rudder stock.

Winglet angle should be changed by spacers between the gudgeons. More rake on the winglet, spacers between the top gudgeon. Less rake on the winglet spacer between the bottom gudgeon. Spacer of 1,75 mm between gudgeons is 0,5 degree's. ( as the rudder gudgeon are spaced 200 mm)

Set-up steps for flying:
  • board to 20mm space between deck and slider. 
  • Sail downwind and get in trapeze to back of the boat 
Boat wants to come out of water YES or NO?

NO, winglet angle has too much lift on the transom.
  • Quick solution on the water, put a small spacer between rudder and rudder stock ( a small filt , like the one you use on furniture to prevent scratching the floor work perfect)(ignore heavy steering). Permanent solution, measure amount of filt and place that as spacers between the bottom gudgeon. 

YES, does the boat stabilize in height or keeps rising?
  • Stabilize you have right setting! 
  • If it keeps rising, move weight slightly forward(30cm), 

Does this solve the problem? YES or NO

YES: take a little less rake on daggerboard or trapeze further forward

NO : Move daggerboard all the way forward. Now repeat standing in trapeze on the back.

Does boat come out of the water? YES or NO

YES: continue

NO : rake daggerboard to 10mm and try again till you find right setting.

The goal is that with your weight you can start the flight of the boat.
Position of traveller is important, high traveller and less mainsheet (more twist, low center of effort) easy for flying.
  • In 8 to 12kn wind: traveller 20cm out.
  • 16kn + : traveller 40cm out.
To start flying try no angle in platform(windward hull flat), and ease some sheet so the boat can rise.
The settings of rudder winglet are critical to succes of flight.
Take action and play with it.

Happy flying!

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